The purpose of this course research guide is to acquaint you with some of the resources in the University Library and on the World Wide Web useful for your research. Should you have questions, stop by the Reference Desk on the first floor. You may also call the Reference Desk at (334) 229-4110 during the hours the Library is open.

CQ Researcher

Each CQ Researcher (ASU) report focuses on a single topic related to social, education, economic, political, health, or environmental issues. They provide a chronological overview and detail recent developments and opposing viewpoints. Each includes a bibliography that can lead you to other sources of information on your topic.

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Journal Articles

The best method for finding journal articles is to use one of the Library's online article databases. For additional information on those listed below and for others, explore our list of databases. The databases are easily accessible off campus by clicking on the database name and typing in the information requested. If you need additional assistance with accessing the databases off campus, contact Cedric Davis (334 229-6998) or Randy Curtis (334 229-5604).

Education Databases

• ERIC (ASU) (AVL)
• Professional Collection (ASU)
• Professional Development Collection (ASU) (AVL)
• Wilson Education Full Text (ASU)

Legal Databases

• LexisNexis Academic Universe: Legal Research (ASU)
• WestLaw Campus (ASU)

Additional Databases

• Academic Search Premier (ASU)
• Expanded Academic ASAP (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• PsycINFO (ASU)

Not all of our databases provide access to the entire text of articles. If the text of an article is not available in a database, check for the journal title in:

• Serials Solutions (ASU) - to determine if the article is available in another online database.
  Serials Solutions does not include Wilson Education Full Text, so be sure to check this database separately.
• HORNetCat - lists journals to which the Library subscribes. Journals are housed in the Serials Department on the third floor.
• Interlibrary Loan - order those articles not available in the Library or via a full-text database.

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ERIC Documents

The ERIC Document collection includes a variety of items pertaining to education. These are arranged by clearinghouses, which specialize in specific areas of education. ERIC documents are located on the Library's third floor in the ERIC microfiche cabinets. Many ERIC documents dating from 1993 to the present are full text through the EDRS database.

• EDRS: ERIC Document Reproduction Service (ASU)
• ERIC (ASU) (AVL)

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Dissertations

As with journal articles and ERIC documents, today's technology also makes the full text of many dissertations available online. Digital Dissertations (ASU) provides the full text of many dissertations from 1997 to the present.

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Government Information

Consult the following sources for information on education issues.

Federal Government Information

• GPO Monthly Catalog (ASU) (AVL)
• GPO Access
• U.S. Department of Education

Alabama Government Information

• Alabama.gov
• Alabama Department of Education

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Books

Those books not located in the University Library can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

• HORNetCat (books in the University Library)
• netLibrary (ASU) (full-text books online)
• WorldCat (ASU) (AVL) (books in other libraries)

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World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is an outstanding but often bewildering source of information. Not everything you find will be authoritative, accurate, and valid. Try searching one of these databases to find more reliable Web sites.

• INFOMINE Scholarly Internet Resource Collections
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
• Scout Report Archives

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Your Comments

Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think about this guide. Has it helped with your research? Do you have any suggestions for improving the guide? You may e-mail Marsha V. Taylor(mvtaylor@alasu.edu) or call her at (334) 229-6839 with your comments and suggestions.

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